Marix just set up a new IRC chat channel for origamiportal so we can all chat with each other all day in real time.

server: irc.cored.net
the channel name is #origamiportal

If you have mIRC you can connect directly to the server by clicking here:
irc://irc.cored.net/origamiportal

If you are unsure what IRC is read more on [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat]Wikipedia[/url]

So come over and see what people are signed on and what we’re chatting about.

UMPC Buzz mentioned Dynamic Display Power Optimisation (D2PO) in a news item last month and at the time I didnt have time to do any research on it. Having just put the UMPC product database live, its now time to take a…

So I have been toying around with the idea of creating a game for the new UMPC and then it hit me, what the world really needed first was a UMPC Program Launcher theme creator and packager. (A game will happen a little later.)

So I started development on what is right now called the “Origami Theme Creator” (Not the final name, so other ideas are welcome)

Currently it more or less emulates the program manager icons in a 800×600 window and allows you to view all of the UI items in a “true to life” way.

For the icons that have multiple items there is currently a drop down box that allows you to select the different possible icons that need to be displayed. For example, there are 6 different wireless status icons and each can be displayed by selecting the correct one from a right click popup box.

[img]http://www.origamiportal.com/origami/images/origami_theme_select.jpg[/img]

Currently the network strength status and battery icon support these multiple icons.

Another feature is the background changer. I am currently using it to test some of the few [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/xcgal/index.php?cat=7]Program Launcher backgrounds[/url] we have. It makes it easy too visualize what a background will look like on the launcher, however it is a little stretched out because the backgrounds are created at 1024×512.

As for developments left before release, I need to finish the specs on the XML file that will track all of the theme information and create functions for pulling the image data form multiple locations. Then the data will likely be saved in a zip file that can be uploaded and installed through the theme creator or by hand.

I will also likely be adding text color support for light and dark text before the first release.

I made a quick video of the functionality including background changing and button higlighting in our [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/xcgal/displayimage.php?pid=81]Pics / Videos section[/url]. So, go check it out and give me any feedback for the program or ideas on items that should be included.

According to an article on [url=http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20060419PR210.html]DigiTimes[/url] market sources were quoted as saying that Microsoft originally wanted to partner with VIA to help promote the UMPC. However they didn’t due to the fact that players like Samsung and Asus preferred Intel.

Also according to the article both VIA and Samsung have declined commenting on whether or not Samsung is really releasing a VIA based UMPC.

The only info that was given was from Samsung saying that they have no agreement with VIA.

The price of the Intel will need to come down if a VIA based Samsung device becomes available with the same specs. At that point only die hard Intel fans would even consider paying $400-$600 more for the same machine.

According to [url=http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=14946]Digital Media Asia[/url] VIA has confirmed that the Samsung Q1 will include a version with the VIA chip.

The VIA Q1 will include a C7-M microprocessor and VX700 chipset. Due to the cheaper price of the VIA processor the Q1 including it will be closer to $700 instead of the $1,200 price for the one with the Intel processor.

As we mentioned in our last article about OrigamiProject.com, they were planning on running some contests soon with some awesome prizes.

Well, the first contest is up, and the prize certainly delivers.

The person who submits the most creative and original “Why the UMPC is great and what I plan to do with one” short essay by April 28, 2006, will receive a Samsung Q1 UMPC and a Slingbox (Actually, on a 2nd reading, this prize will actually go to the top five entries, and the 10 after that receive an Origami T-shirt). Good luck to everyone who participates.

[Update: This is also known as the Paceblade Easybook P8.]

I thought that the smartpad journal entry had turned out to be a bit of a dead-loss (after hearing subsequently that it had been discontinued nearly 2 years ago!) but un unknown…

[Update: 15th April - Zupera Technology returned my email query for more information. The bad news is that they stopped producing this device a long time ago.]

Browsing back over some of my ‘draft’ blogs (of which there are many!) I…

Dustin has just made a new blog entry over at Microsoft’s Origami Project site, and it contains some interesting info.

First off, he is excited about the pre-orders for the TabletKiosk coming through in a couple weeks and the availability of the Samsung device in May. Dustin feels good about both devices and likes the design and hardware buttons of the TabletKiosk and the design, weight, and speakers with the Samsung.

The last paragraph is where it starts to get exciting, as Dustin mentions they will be running some contests soon and giving away some cool free stuff, and I for one, love free stuff (especially if they are giving away one of those dope Microsoft orange hats).

Lastly, there should be a new Touch Improvement blog by Origami Project member Sears soon, and a Pimp your UMPC soon as well! I’m already imagining my UMPC decked out with spinners and a two-tone cherry red/canary yellow paint job.

Pictured above is the new Averatec AHI UMPC concept device that was announced yesterday. Looks a lot like a SideKick to me, but some of the rumored specs are quite appealing.

Set to launch this fall, the price is expected to be between $600 or $1090 (€500 or €900) depending on options. The AHI will be equipped with WiFi, GPS, camera, 3G, 30 GB HardDrive, a six hour battery life, and a touch screen. Having a touch screen suggests that this device will be running Windows XP Tablet edition, even though the picture below (from pdafrance.com) displays Home edition in the specs.

[img]http://www.origamiportal.com/origami/images/averatec3.jpg[/img]

The device measures in at 7.3 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches and weighs 24 ounces, which certainly makes it an Ultra-Mobile PC. I haven’t heard whether it will come Microsoft Touch Pack equipped, which would make it an Origami device, but either way this device is quite promising (if the rumored specs are true): very good battery life, keyboard, light-weight, 3G connectivity.

Another pic below…

Steve, from carrypad.com has created a new UMPC products section that covers the new Origami Ultra-Mobile PC devices, mini notebooks, and mini tablet devices. Check it out here.

Each device listed has basic specs like RAM, CPU, HD, and screen size, and the more info section for each device goes more in-depth and provides links to external reviews and articles on the device.

Its a great reference for anyone interested in learning about all the different devices out there.

[Update - 14th April - All product data has now been entered into the website.]

The product list that I had was gettting quite popular and had a few outstanding requests from users. I’ve re-worked the site over that last two…

The first news is that we just hit over our 1,000th post in the [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/newbb/]forums[/url]. So thanks to everyone that has signed up and chatted about the UMPC. It will be exciting when the devices start getting released because we have a large group of people here to help others in their questions and purchasing of the devices.

Secondly, We reported earlier that we had been featured on a UK show called [url=http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/5gsmain.jsp?lnk=401&section=Links&show=s4e10&featureid=132]The Gadget Show[/url]. Matt9m5 was kind enough to record the video and we have it hosted in our pic/vids section [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/xcgal/displayimage.php?pid=79]here[/url]. so check out what OrigamiPortal looks like on television and watch Chippys name in lights.

And lastly some sad news in case no one had noticed yet, but we have cancelled our [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=1]podcast [/url] this week due to not having enough time this week because of work. But we will be back with show #5 soon.

Once again, thanks to everyone for helping us build this website and for all of the new users that have signed up and not yet posted feel free to post a little about yourself in our [url=http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=84&forum=4]New Users thread[/url] or chat about your feelings on the UMPC devices.

Today has been a big day for the Samsung Q1 in Korea.
First according to [url=http://www.umpcbuzz.com/blogs/umpc_buzz/archive/2006/04/12/8419.aspx]UMPCBuzz[/url] the website [url=http://www.telecomskorea.com]telecomskorea[/url] is reporting that Samsung is going to release a VIA version of its UMPC for $700.

I was unable to log in to see the information but the google news item stated, A company official said on Wednesday, “The Via chip-based UMPC can be priced at slightly over $ 700. The model name is not decided yet.”

So there is no other news to back this claim up, but if true that is good to hear.

Also according to the [url=http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/04/13/200604130023.asp]Korean Herald[/url] the Q1 will be released on May 1 in Korea under the name Sens Q1. The device is also expected to have a price tag of almost 2 Million Won or $2,000 dollars. So a bit more pricey than the VIA units so far a nd apossible reason why Samsung may be creating a VIA based system in the future.

[img]http://www.origamiportal.com/origami/images/origamicarshot.jpg[/img]

Thanks to Marix for letting us know that Richard Morton over at [url=http://www.origamicar.com/cs/blogs/origamicaro/archive/2006/04/10/16.aspx]OrigamiCar[/url] just got a chance to install his new OrigamiCar software on a UMPC unit.

The version shown in the photos is an early build of the software, but apparently the build ran well on the 256 MB of RAM contained in the unit.

There is also a great picture of Richard wearing a bright orange hat with the windows logo that they made him wear while they took a picture of him, so go check it out.